The brown airplane truck stopped by and dropped off my new engine this afternoon. The engine looks great and bare weight is 3lbs 0.0 ozs. Total weight including standoffs, BCM pitts,and ignition less batt pack is 4lbs 1.2 ozs. I will try to run this and can post #'s by Friday.

Dave

Thats cool. Still waiting on the brown airplane truck to deliver mine

Very, Very Nice

Looks good Dave! Let us know how she runs.

Doug

Wow... The Desert Aircraft 50 DOES exist! Could you weigh all the parts like you did the engine with the corrulating weights and post the pictures for each? That's a pretty cool way to show us all how much each of the parts and pieces really do weigh with the scale actually showing the weight. I wish the distributors would show the weights of the products they sale like you did. You can never believe them until the parts arrive and weigh them yourself.

AGAIN... VERY COOL... GLAD THE BROWN AIRPLANE TRUCK DIDN'T GET LOST!

No engine yet... Shame since it was supposed to ship 2 weeks ago and Arizona isn't that far from Southern Cal... could have pushed the brown truck with DA50 in it here by now...anyway...

If you guys are looking for any Vinyl Graphics for the DA50 check out this post from user RANDY. His graphics showed up today and look great. He's got plenty of colors to choose from and the price is right.


http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...ighlight=randy]

Looks nice Dave

Randy

It's been raining all day and supposed to keep raining tomorrow so the engine will get zero run time until this passes.
I ordered the DA graphics from Randy some time ago, just as he's shown above and they are excellent. He's a good guy to deal with.

Dave

WoW! Nice Hardware . . .I'm also waiting, Let's get that bad boy running!
Wait until the wifes gone, get your ear plugs in and lets fill that garage with some smoke!

We can't wait for your report . . .

BigRagu

Well I got to run the engine today. 29* and 6'' of snow.
First off this thing starts very easy, one or two flips after it pops when cold are all you need. When warm it usually started first flip w/o choke.
First time starting, it fired right up and idled at a smooth 2000 rpm. I ran three 16oz tanks through it and then played with the needles. I ended up putting them right back to factory settings. The idle was smooth and transition was quick. The BCM muffler isn't all to loud.
As fas as rpm #'s, I'm not as impressed as I had hoped. Though when I spoke to DA on the phone I was told you could lose up to 700 rpm with the BCM muffler. I should gain a few after the engine breaks in. Not too worried but thought I'd get more.
Here's what I got halfway through the third tank.
NX 21X10
6000 rpm
6500 rpm open exhaust
Zinger Pro 22X10
5800 rpm
6400 rpm open exhaust
Time to mount the engine to the plane and fly when the snow melts.

Dave

Hey Dave,

Really love the DA 50R....should be a great power source for numerous planes...

Now about the scale in the picture....

What make/model is it and where might one obtain one?

Thanks,

Bill

Hey Bill another good scale that is a little larger is an a/c recharging scale from Snap-On Tools, no. ACT120. I have seen this same scale sold by others for less but can't remember where.
Kent

The RPM's figures that you posted seem very low I talked to Dave he told me it should turn 7100 out of the box with a 22X10 Menzs -S there should not be that much difference. I wonder if you have a problem with your motor?

7100 out of the box w/22X10?

That's kinda what I was hoping for since they recomend a 22X10, 23X10 and 24X8.
As the way it is now it's not much if any more powerful than my ZDZ40(6900 22X8)
Guess I'll call DA tomorrow and get their opinion.

Dave

Ask if the RPM they quoted was demonstrated with a 22 X 10 and the KS straight pipe they advertise only? I'm sure it was broke in also . . .

BigRagu

Hey Dave, you should kiss that zdz 40 if it turns that good. My zdz40 only will do 6700 with a 20x8, I still like it. I am still waiting for my DA50R. If it will turn a 22x10 in the high 6s I will be very happy.

Kent

I'am sure the RPM's are with the stock muffler he told me the figures are new not broke in I asked. Here are the RPM's on other Menz-S props he recommends.
22x8=7300
22x10=7100
23x10=6300
24x8=6400
I hope this helps.

Hinckley Bill,
The scale is a Pelouze model PE10. It would be better if it were larger.

K_Hunt,
It will also turn a 20X10 @ 7100-7200
But these are both ZingerPro props though.

Falcon,
Your #'s seem more like it.

Dave

Talked to DA this morning about the low RPM #'s. He informed me that I should use a Menz or Mejzlik 22X10 and that the problem was the Zinger pro. Was told I should get 6700 with the Menz and 7100 with the Mejzlik. I just don't see how changing from a Zinger pro to one of these will get me a 900 to 1300 rpm increase. Guess I will order one and find out. What do ya think?

I ran the engine again today and now have gallon through it. No change in #'s but it sure starts easy and runs smooth.

Dave

davham I would have thought the Zinger Pro would turn up more than a Menz-S. The figures I posted were for Men-S props because I asked to make sure. They told you a lower no. than they told me.

They called me back and are going to send me one of their mufflers to try along with a mejzlik 22X10. He seems to think the bcm is causing the low #'s.

Dave

Guys, please bear with me.

One of the most interesting things about this hobby is all the pre-market hype and the disappointment/justification when the product doesn't live up to the hype.

I have been using cheap props (Dynathrust 22 x 10) on my pair of 3W-50 for a couple of years and they turned the 7400-7600 rpms right out of the box. When I put on a good prop (Bolly) the rpms increase 100-200 but I don't use these because of the bad runways I use on my research aircraft. When you hit a stone in the grass, guess what breaks?.

I have an engine which weighs 3-6 ozs more and provides more power and I have been using it for 3 years. Please explain to me the reason for the hype. I believe DA may be pushing the hype at the expense of their credibility

Just my .02.

Ok, open fire on me!!!!

Elson

Say Davham:
I would bet that DA is correct that the Bisson muffler is knocking off power. Your own tests show the same thing when you compared open exhaust to the Bisson. For comparison, I have seen a Brison 3.2 turn the Mejzlik 22x10 @ 7100 rpm with B&B muffler. It's reasonable to expect the DA to be in the same range with a free flowing muffler. Others have posted here on RCU that the Bisson mufflers knock off 500 rpm on other gas engines like the ZDZ-80.

From the horses mouth at DA today "All tests were made with the standard side mount mufflers on new, non-broken in engines at 2700' ASL. With very accurate tachs".

I'm sure daveham heard the same thing today.

I'll wait to see what the prop/muffler change will do . . ."a 24 x 8 Menz Standard (6400) on a 19.5 lb. 88" Cap won the first IMAC contest entered."

If you want the RPM drop down to the 22 x 8 Menz Standard (7300). I'll take constant speed, and smooth power any day.

BigRagu

I've waited for months for the DA 50 to come out, but based on some of the comments here, I may wait a little longer for another hyped engine. You lucky (or unlucky) guys that have the DA 50 have got to let the rest of us know your story. Was it worth the wait? Does it perform like you wanted it to?

We all know the RPM/prop combination story. We get different RPM readings on the ground with the different prop selections, but the story is when you get it in the air. I've used the static thrust calculator many times where the horsepower and static thrust just doesn't add up to what the plane actually does in the air.

I chatted with Keith Baker of BME a couple of days ago and asked how the BME 55 Xtreme (6hp and a little over two lbs is the talk)(more hype?) is coming. He told me he has a couple of prototypes that he's working on but he hopes to have something he can distribute in June.

I really wanted one of those pretty DA 50's, but I will wait for your evaluations and opinions of the motor.

I KNOW I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D PLEASE KEEP US ALL POSTED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DA 50.

John